Meet The X-MET3000TXR+ Handheld Lead Detector

By consumerist.comAugust 29, 2007

In response to growing concerns about toxic levels of lead in paint and metal on children’s toys, Oxford Instruments has developed a hand held electronic lead detector, a veritable rockboulder on the tracks of the Chinese Poison Train.

The X-MET3000TXR+ is a X-ray fluorescence scanner. By examining how much the x-ray excites the particles, it can identify an object’s chemical structure. No word on price, but a tool like this can give more accurate readings than rub-on home-based test kits, and significantly faster determinations than waiting for lab test results. UPDATE: A reader says these will cost you about $30,000.00. Excellent, now the rich can make sure the silver spoons they’re birthing their children with in their mouths are unleaded.

Is the Consumerist suggesting that concerned parents purchase this device to test toys? It’s probably less expensive to make all your kids’ toys from scratch; this seems like a rather sophisticated gadget.

And dammit, X-MET3000TXR+, our nation’s children NEED a little hexavalent chromium and cadmium. Otherwise, how will they learn to stay away from it?

We use a similar device where I work; an electronics contractor. It’s used to measure levels of lead and other elements to ensure ROHS compliance. Reduction of Hazardous Substances or something like that. It’s for the reduction of bad crap in electronics.

Just go buy a lead test kit in the paint section of your local hardware store, they can vary in price between $5-$20 if your really that paranoid. This test gun isn’t worth it unless your testing thousands of products for lead. Which Toys R Us should probably start doing.